While it has the costumes and dialogue we all come to recognise as a period drama, this particular film sets itself apart from the conventional romance of the genre with a distinctly dark twist.

Adapted from a 2016 novel, this 2022 film brought the ‘disturbing’ story to cinema screens in a way that earned universal acclaim from critics and five-star reviews from audiences alike.

The Wonder is a psychological drama set in the wake of the Great Famine in a rural Irish village, focusing on a British nurse sent to observe a young girl. According to her family, the child has been ‘fasting’ yet somehow miraculously surviving without any food for months.

The profound trauma of the famine casts a long shadow over the community, rendering many locals distinctly unwelcoming towards the English nurse. As events progress, a dark and disturbing truth emerges behind the young girl’s fast, alongside a secret she has been hiding from her deeply devout family.

She believes that through fasting, she may be able to free the soul of the person who subjected her to terrible violence.

One viewer posted their reaction on Rotten Tomatoes, saying: “The Wonder is mysterious with a disturbing story. Beautiful settings match the film’s perfectly slow pace as Pugh steadily reels you in to the cultish drama. I was very pleased at how the film wrapped up.”

Acclaimed British actress Florence Pugh leads the cast, playing nurse Lib Wright in a performance that has received widespread praise.

Best known for her roles in Little Women, Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling and Dune, Pugh has firmly cemented her status as one of the most captivating performers in contemporary cinema, and her contribution to this production appears to be no different.

One viewer said: “I mean, it’s a Florence Pugh performance; it’s great no matter what. But the movie is also pretty awesome. Highly recommended.”

She is joined by an outstanding ensemble cast featuring Tom Burke, Niamh Algar, Elaine Cassidy, Dermot Crowley and Brían F. O’Byrne.

Also starring in the film is Kíla Lord Cassidy, who portrays patient Anna O’Donnell, whom the nurse is tasked with closely watching and observing.

The film delves into weighty themes of religion while painting a vivid portrait of rural Irish life during the era, which some viewers have labelled as “disturbing”.

The story progresses at a deliberate pace, drawing criticism from certain viewers who felt it lacked adequate dramatic tension, with one describing it as “slow going and kind of boring”, though they acknowledged the performances as “exceptional”.

Another review said: “A must see! Had amazing writing and storyline that shows real history and connects to cultures. The lead actress plays this role amazingly!”.

The Wonder is available to stream on Netflix now.